Last Updated: 1:21 PM, January 26, 2011
Posted: 3:15 AM, January 26, 2011
It's the family that loves you to death.

A Colombo mob big, trying to rebuild his already-decimated organization before the feds pummeled his network last week, made straying members an offer they couldn't refuse: Come back -- or else, authorities charged yesterday.

Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo, the coldblooded acting street boss of the Colombos, had been "reaching out" to wayward members since March "to get them to pledge their commitment to come back into the family," Assistant US Attorney Liz Geddes said at a bail hearing in Brooklyn federal court.


'There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see this man where he belongs and where he is needed the most — with his family.' - James Caan, in a letter to the judge on behalf of his longtime pal, Colombo boss Andrew Russo
Russo -- who counts among his supporters "Godfather" co-star James Caan and "Sopranos" TV hit man Federico Castelluccio -- allegedly made it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Anyone who didn't heed the call to come back into the family fold "would be placed on his list of enemies," which would then be circulated among the four other New York crime families, Geddes said.

Russo -- accused of conspiracy and extortion charges -- was among 127 suspects busted last week in the biggest-ever one-day Mafia takedown.

Despite his bloody reputation, Russo, 76, has big-name supporters, such as Caan, a longtime pal who played hot-headed mobster Sonny Corleone in the Mafia movie classic, and Castelluccio, who played Italian muscle Furio Giunta on the HBO series.

Caan yesterday told The Post, "My friendship with Andrew Russo dates back over 35 years, and I've only known him to be as good a friend as anyone could be to me and my family."

The actor wrote a note to the court in which he said, "Our two families are intertwined.

"My son Scott is his godson," Caan wrote, referring to the budding star of the revived TV series "Hawaii Five-0." "[Russo] has always been the first to call when any member of my family has been ill or troubled, and always looked after me like a brother.

"I'd be willing to put up anything of personal value that the court would accept [for bail]. I would not hesitate a moment to fly in and be present if the court should so request.

"In short, there's nothing I wouldn't do to see this man where he belongs and where he is needed the most -- with his family."

Castelluccio, an accomplished painter, attended the hearing and said he connected with Russo the "artist," who sculpts.

"I'm just here to show support for a friend," he said.

A group of hearing-impaired people also showed up to support Russo. One woman said Russo used to defend a group of deaf children in the neighborhood who were picked on.

What the hell is Caan doing getting involved in this for....???

He said they were friends for over 35 years and he's the godfather to his son.

who were these straying members that he was threatening?

Ive wondered this as well. probably some of the lower profile guys we never hear about anymore.